Feb 7, 2011 at 4:02 PM

Advisory Committee, Public Involvement Strategy and Environmental Program

West Hayden Island Advisory Committee Formed

For Phase II of the West Hayden Island Project, an Advisory Committee has been formed to replace the former Coordinating Committee and Community Working Group. The Advisory Committee is made up of individuals with environmental and economic interests as well as local, state and regional perspectives. The primary function of this group is to serve as advisors on the West Hayden Island Project and related programs. The Advisory Committee met twice in December 2010 and once in January 2011 to review draft scopes of work for additional consultant studies that will be done this year.

For a calendar of upcoming WHI Advisory Committee meetings, meeting summaries, membership and a list of the consultant studies to be produced during this phase of the project, visit the Advisory Committee page on the project web site.

On Nov. 30, 2010, BPS hosted a meeting of 25 stakeholders to discuss public outreach and involvement strategies for the next phase of the West Hayden Island project. BPS shared a draft outreach and involvement plan for the project. The group’s feedback will serve as guidance to City staff as we plan and implement public events and meetings to inform and engage the public. Some of the suggestions made by the group included:

Provide the public with more knowledge of the island through tours.

Develop key sets of questions for the public to respond to in order to frame discussions.

Provide specific development scenarios for different uses so the public can think more concretely about potential impacts and offer feedback.

Provide executive summaries of technical reports for public review and comment on key aspects/findings of the reports.

To review the summit meeting notes and the BPS public outreach and involvement plan, visit the Public Involvement page.

Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) Update for the Island

As part of the West Hayden Island Phase II project as well as implementation of the Hayden Island Plan, the City of Portland is updating the Environmental Program for the whole island and portions of the Columbia River southern bank. The first step is developing an inventory of existing natural resources, such as vegetation, wetlands, flood area and shallow water habitat. The City has established a technical panel made up of local and regional experts to assist with the inventory. A draft update will be available for public review and comment in the spring.

The next steps include evaluating the trade-offs between different levels of natural resources protection and refining environmental overlay zoning within the study area. For additional information, please contact Mindy Brooks at 503-823-7831 or mindy.brooks@portlandoregon.gov.

Mar 17, 2011 at 4:03 PM

The City has released two Requests for Proposals (RFP)s for consultant work on West Hayden Island

There are currently two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) requesting consultant bids to aid the city in their current phase of planning for West Hayden Island. These requests were released in early March.

The first would lead us through the concept planning process adhering to the City Councils parameters to consider protecting at least 500 acres of open space while allowing up to 300 acres for marine terminal development. This work would also consider background research such as updating a rail study for the island and researching operational efficiencies that could be used on the island. The bids are due on April 1st. The second will analyze the potential public costs and benefits associated with a marine terminal development meeting the parameters of the City Council, as well as the costs and benefits in keeping the island's current state. Bids for this proposal are due on April 8th.

For consultants interested in finding out more about these RFPs, you can access the city's purchasing website at www.ebidexchange.com/cityofportland. The current proposals are BPS-014 and BPS-015 respectively.

General information about these scopes of work were discussed with the projects Advisory Committee in January, and are available in the Adviory Committee meeting notes, starting on page 32

Mar 31, 2011 at 4:03 PM

The city will be leading two public tours of the island on May 7th and June 4th.

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability will be leading two public tours of West Hayden Island to provide the public a chance to see the island and learn more about the planning project in preparation for the concept planning process later this summer.

The tour on Saturday May 7th will be a van tour of the island. Space is limited to 25 people. Click here to find out more information about this van tour, registering and deadlines.

The tour on Saturday June 4th will be a walking tour. Two options of differing lengths will be offered. These tours will also have a limited number of attendees. Click here to find out more information about the walking tours, registering and deadlines.

Tours on both dates will begin at the end of Hayden Island Drive, and will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. (Registration at 9:45 a.m.)

Jun 10, 2011 at 10:44 AM

The city is hiring two consultants to work on key elements for planning West Hayden Island

Last summer, City Council requested several additional studies of West Hayden Island as part of the resolution to continue planning efforts on West Hayden Island (WHI). The project team is hiring the following consultant teams to complete several studies over the next 6-9 months.

Harbor Lands Inventory is a feasibility analysis of creating possible sites for a marine terminal by consolidation and/or expansion of existing sites along the Willamette River. This includes a review of our harbor lands inventory and will include the Vancouver waterfront lands.

Public Benefit-Costs Analysis will analyze the costs and benefits associated with a potential marine industrial development and related infrastructure on 300 acres and protecting the remaining 500 acres of open space on WHI. This analysis will compare the costs and benefits of development with the costs and benefits of leaving the island in its current condition.

Worley Parsons has been given a notice of intent to lead us through a Concept Plan development process (subject to Council approval on June 22nd). The consultant will use the City Council's parameters of protecting 500 acres as open space and 300 acres for future marine terminal development. They will design a public process for developing the concept plans with the Project Advisory Committee and the public. Four components of the concept panning process will include:

A Rail Analysis to review different rail access scenarios that can be accommodated within a 300-acre footprint.

An Operational Efficiencies Study to review innovations around the world at other ports, including why these strategies would or would not work in Portland.

A Transportation Analysis to develop the street plan alternatives for WHI, including consideration of a bridge.

Preliminary Economic, Social, Environmental and Energy (ESEE) Analysis. The consultant will provide advice to staff on a "as needed" basis to determine the positive, negative, mixed and neutral consequences of allowing, limiting or prohibiting a mix of marine industrial, open space and recreation uses.

Please see the Phase II Technical Studies for a list of all the studies that are currently being undertaken by the city and consultants.